Obama sets sights on Asia drone base

Plan is backup to Afghan troop exit

By KEN DILANIAN AND DAVID S. CLOUD TRIBUNE WASHINGTON

Posted: February 17, 2014 at 3:36 a.m.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is making contingency plans to use air bases in Central Asia to conduct drone missile attacks in northwest Pakistan in case the White House is forced to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan at the end of this year, U.S. officials said.